Question

The student nurse is assisting the nurse in administering intravenous normal saline to a dehydrated client. The nurse explains to the student that active transport is essential in maintaining sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the body's fluid compartments. The student asks how active transport differs from other transport processes. What is the best response by the nurse?

1) Unlike osmosis, active transport moves water from a solution with a higher concentration of solutes to a less concentrated solution.
2) Unlike osmosis, active transport moves water from a solution with a lower concentration of solutes to a more concentrated solution.
3) Unlike diffusion, active transport moves solutes from a solution with a higher concentration of solutes to a less concentrated solution.
4) Unlike diffusion, active transport moves solutes from a solution with a lower concentration of solutes to a more concentrated solution.

Answer 1

Active transport differs from diffusion in that it moves solutes against their concentration gradient, with the sodium-potassium pump being a key example, requiring energy input in the form of ATP.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response by the nurse to explain how active transport differs from other transport processes would be option 4) Unlike diffusion, active transport moves solutes from a solution with a lower concentration of solutes to a more concentrated solution. Active transport is necessary for maintaining specific concentrations of ions, such as sodium and potassium, inside and outside cells. This process requires energy, typically from the hydrolysis of ATP, to move these ions against their concentration gradient. The sodium-potassium pump is a classic example of active transport, moving sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell, which is contrary to their natural diffusion gradients.